Shigeki Morimoto

Shigeki Morimoto (Japanese: 森本茂樹 Morimoto Shigeki, born October 2nd, 1967) is a game designer, Pokémon designer, and programmer who has worked at Game Freak since 1992. Morimoto has been involved in nearly every core series Pokémon game since Pokémon Red and Green. He was the game director for Pokémon Emerald and Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. Morimoto is notable for his prominent role in the creation of the Pokémon Mew, which has since become his favorite Pokémon.

Morimoto in 2023

He also appears as an NPC called Morimoto (Japanese: モリモト) in Generations V, VII, and VIII.

Designs

Pokémon

The following is a list of Pokémon designed by Morimoto.

• 

  Diglett

• 

  Mankey

• 

  Tauros

• 

  Mew

• 

  Shuckle

• 

  Piloswine

Game credits

• Mario & Wario (1993) - Map Design
• Pokémon Red and Green (1996) - Programmer, Monster Design
• Pokémon Blue (1996) - Programmer, Monster Design
• Bushi Seiryūden: Futari no Yūsha (1997) - Map Design & Balance Check
• Game Boy Camera (1998) - Special Thanks
• Pokémon Stadium (Japanese) (1998) - Original Characters
• Pokémon Yellow (1998) - Programmer
• Pokémon Stadium (1999) - Original Characters
• Pokémon Gold and Silver (1999) - Programmer, Monster Design, Game Design
• Pokémon Crystal (2000) - Programmer, Monster Design, Game Design
• Pokémon Stadium 2 (2000) - Advisement & Original Character Design
• Super Smash Bros. Melee (2001) - Original Game Staff (Programming: Pokémon)
• Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire (2002) - Battle Director, Pokémon Designer, Game Designer, Parametric Designer
• Pokémon Colosseum (2003) - Pokémon Advisor
• Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen (2004) - Battle Director, Parametric Designer, Pokémon Designer
• Pokémon Emerald (2004) - Director, Game Designer, Parametric Designer, Pokémon Designer
• Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness (2005) - Pokémon Advisor
• Pokémon Diamond and Pearl (2006) - Battle Director, Parametric Designer
• Pokémon Battle Revolution (2006) - Pokémon Advisor
• Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008) - Supervisor (Original Games)
• Pokémon Platinum (2008) - Game Design, Parametric Design
• Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver (2009) - Director, Parametric Design, Pokémon Design
• Pokémon Black and White (2010) - Battle System Design (Lead), Pokémon & Trainer Parameter Design, Battle Subway Parameter Design
• Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 (2012) - Pokémon Black Version and White Version Game Design
• Pokémon X and Y (2013) - Game Battle System Design (Lead)
• Pokémon Sun and Moon (2016) - Battle Planning (Lead)
• Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon (2017) - System Planning Section Director, Battle Planning
• Little Town Hero (2019) - Supervisor
• Pokémon Sword and Shield (2019) - Battle Planning (Lead)
• Pokémon Scarlet and Violet (2022) - Battle Logic Planning

In the games

Morimoto had regularly maintained a cameo appearance as an NPC that can be battled with in the games, from Generation V until Generation VIII. He also cameoed in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl despite not being credited in the game.

Generation V

In Pokémon Black, White, Black 2, and White 2, Morimoto appears in Castelia City in the Game Freak building. He will battle the player once per day, although in Black and White, the player must have cleared the main game before they can battle him. He uses the Veteran sprite.

Pokémon Black and White

GAME FREAK Morimoto Castelia City Black and White Reward: $6160

Type: Dark Unknown Ability: Limber Held item: None Liepard♂ Lv.75 Fake Out Normal Physical   --       Grass Knot Grass Special   --       Night Slash Dark Physical   --       Sucker Punch Dark Physical   --       Type: Water Unknown Ability: Gluttony Held item: Petaya Berry Simipour♂ Lv.75 Surf Water Special   --       Crunch Dark Physical   --       Payback Dark Physical   --       Acrobatics Flying Physical   --       Type: Fire Unknown Ability: Gluttony Held item: Petaya Berry Simisear♂ Lv.75 Flamethrower Fire Special   --       Crunch Dark Physical   --       Payback Dark Physical   --       Acrobatics Flying Physical   --       Type: Grass Unknown Ability: Gluttony Held item: Petaya Berry Simisage♂ Lv.75 Energy Ball Grass Special   --       Crunch Dark Physical   --       Payback Dark Physical   --       Acrobatics Flying Physical   --       Types: Psychic Flying Ability: Unaware Held item: None Swoobat♂ Lv.75 Air Slash Flying Special   --       Endeavor Normal Physical   --       Psychic Psychic Special   --       Psyshock Psychic Special   --       Type: Electric Unknown Ability: Lightningrod Held item: None Zebstrika♂ Lv.77 Pursuit Dark Physical   --       Giga Impact Normal Physical   --       Flame Charge Fire Physical   --       Wild Charge Electric Physical   --

Pokémon Black 2 and White 2

Pre–Hall of Fame

GAME FREAK Morimoto Castelia City Black 2 and White 2 Reward: $1120

Type: Grass Unknown Ability: Gluttony Held item: Oran Berry Pansage♂ Lv.14 Vine Whip Grass Physical   --       Lick Ghost Physical   --       Fury Swipes Normal Physical   --       Curse Unknown Status   --       Type: Fire Unknown Ability: Gluttony Held item: Oran Berry Pansear♂ Lv.14 Incinerate Fire Special   --       Lick Ghost Physical   --       Fury Swipes Normal Physical   --       Curse Unknown Status   --       Type: Water Unknown Ability: Gluttony Held item: Oran Berry Panpour♂ Lv.14 Water Gun Water Special   --       Lick Ghost Physical   --       Fury Swipes Normal Physical   --       Curse Unknown Status   --

Post–Hall of Fame

GAME FREAK Morimoto Castelia City Black 2 and White 2 Reward: $6240

Type: Dark Unknown Ability: Unburden Held item: None Liepard♂ Lv.76 Fake Out Normal Physical   --       Sucker Punch Dark Physical   --       Night Slash Dark Physical   --       Grass Knot Grass Special   --       Type: Water Unknown Ability: Gluttony Held item: Petaya Berry Simipour♂ Lv.76 Surf Water Special   --       Crunch Dark Physical   --       Payback Dark Physical   --       Acrobatics Flying Physical   --       Type: Fire Unknown Ability: Gluttony Held item: Petaya Berry Simisear♂ Lv.76 Crunch Dark Physical   --       Flamethrower Fire Special   --       Payback Dark Physical   --       Acrobatics Flying Physical   --       Type: Grass Unknown Ability: Gluttony Held item: Petaya Berry Simisage♂ Lv.76 Energy Ball Grass Special   --       Acrobatics Flying Physical   --       Payback Dark Physical   --       Crunch Dark Physical   --       Types: Psychic Flying Ability: Unaware Held item: None Swoobat♂ Lv.76 Air Slash Flying Special   --       Psychic Psychic Special   --       Psyshock Psychic Special   --       Endeavor Normal Physical   --       Type: Electric Unknown Ability: Motor Drive Held item: None Zebstrika♂ Lv.78 Pursuit Dark Physical   --       Giga Impact Normal Physical   --       Flame Charge Fire Physical   --       Wild Charge Electric Physical   --

Generation VII

In Pokémon Sun and Moon, Morimoto returns as a Trainer the player can battle in the Game Freak office in Heahea City. Like in Black and White, the player must have become Champion before they can battle him, he can be battled once per day, and he shares his appearance with male Veterans. Morimoto will heal the player's Pokémon after defeating him, and after defeating him for the first time, he will give the player an Oval Charm. In Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, Morimoto plays the same role, except he teams with the game's director, Kazumasa Iwao, for a Multi Battle.

In Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, Morimoto appears as a male Coach Trainer on the third floor of Celadon Condominiums after the player has entered the Hall of Fame. In these games, he uses the same Generation I Pokémon team he uses in Sun and Moon. After he is defeated, he will give the player ten PP Maxes.

Pokémon Sun and Moon

GAME FREAK Morimoto Heahea City Sun and Moon Reward: $5,952

Type: Normal Unknown Ability: Scrappy Held item: None Kangaskhan♀ Lv.62 Fake Out Normal Physical   --       Dizzy Punch Normal Physical   --       Sucker Punch Dark Physical   --       Earthquake Ground Physical   --       Type: Electric Unknown Ability: Volt Absorb Held item: None Jolteon♂ Lv.62 Quick Attack Normal Physical   --       Thunder Electric Special   --       Baby-Doll Eyes Fairy Status   --       Thunder Wave Electric Status   --       Type: Fire Unknown Ability: Flash Fire Held item: None Flareon♂ Lv.62 Quick Attack Normal Physical   --       Flare Blitz Fire Physical   --       Baby-Doll Eyes Fairy Status   --       Will-O-Wisp Fire Status   --       Type: Water Unknown Ability: Water Absorb Held item: None Vaporeon♂ Lv.62 Quick Attack Normal Physical   --       Hydro Pump Water Special   --       Baby-Doll Eyes Fairy Status   --       Toxic Poison Status   --       Type: Fighting Unknown Ability: No Guard Held item: None Machamp♂ Lv.62 Dynamic Punch Fighting Physical   --       Stone Edge Rock Physical   --       Poison Jab Poison Physical   --       Dual Chop Dragon Physical   --       Types: Dragon Flying Ability: Multiscale Held item: None Dragonite♂ Lv.62 Hurricane Flying Special   --       Draco Meteor Dragon Special   --       Thunder Electric Special   --       Blizzard Ice Special   --

Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon

GAME FREAK and GAME FREAK Morimoto Iwao Heahea City Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon Reward: $6,808

Types: Ghost Poison Ability: Cursed Body Held item: None Gengar♂ Lv.57 Shadow Ball Ghost Special   --       Dark Pulse Dark Special   --       Sludge Bomb Poison Special   --       Psychic Psychic Special   --       Type: Fighting Unknown Ability: No Guard Held item: None Machamp♂ Lv.57 Dynamic Punch Fighting Physical   --       Stone Edge Rock Physical   --       Poison Jab Poison Physical   --       Dual Chop Dragon Physical   --       Types: Dragon Flying Ability: Multiscale Held item: None Dragonite♂ Lv.57 Hurricane Flying Special   --       Draco Meteor Dragon Special   --       Thunder Electric Special   --       Blizzard Ice Special   --       Type: Normal Unknown Ability: Protean Held item: None Kecleon♂ Lv.56 Sucker Punch Dark Physical   --       Shadow Claw Ghost Physical   --       Rock Slide Rock Physical   --       Brick Break Fighting Physical   --       Type: Normal Unknown Ability: Technician Held item: None Ambipom♂ Lv.56 Double Hit Normal Physical   --       Dual Chop Dragon Physical   --       U-turn Bug Physical   --       Aerial Ace Flying Physical   --       Type: Normal Unknown Ability: Serene Grace Held item: None Blissey♀ Lv.56 Fire Blast Fire Special   --       Thunder Electric Special   --       Blizzard Ice Special   --       Dazzling Gleam Fairy Special   --

Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!

Coach Trainer Morimoto Celadon Condominiums Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! Reward: $5,400

Type: Normal Unknown Mega Stone: None Kangaskhan♀ Lv.54 Fake Out Normal Physical   --       Sucker Punch Dark Physical   --       Dizzy Punch Normal Physical   --       Outrage Dragon Physical   --       Type: Fire Unknown Mega Stone: None Flareon♂ Lv.54 Quick Attack Normal Physical   --       Double Kick Fighting Physical   --       Flare Blitz Fire Physical   --       Superpower Fighting Physical   --       Type: Water Unknown Mega Stone: None Vaporeon♀ Lv.54 Quick Attack Normal Physical   --       Double Kick Fighting Physical   --       Hydro Pump Water Special   --       Blizzard Ice Special   --       Type: Electric Unknown Mega Stone: None Jolteon♂ Lv.54 Quick Attack Normal Physical   --       Double Kick Fighting Physical   --       Thunder Electric Special   --       Shadow Ball Ghost Special   --       Type: Fighting Unknown Mega Stone: None Machamp♂ Lv.54 Superpower Fighting Physical   --       Earthquake Ground Physical   --       Poison Jab Poison Physical   --       Rock Slide Rock Physical   --       Types: Dragon Flying Mega Stone: None Dragonite♂ Lv.54 Dragon Pulse Dragon Special   --       Blizzard Ice Special   --       Fire Blast Fire Special   --       Thunder Electric Special   --

Generation VIII

In Pokémon Sword and Shield, Morimoto appears as a Police Officer on the second floor of eastern branch of Hotel Ionia in Circhester. After the player has become Galar's Champion, they can challenge him to a Double Battle once per day. Like in Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon, he will award the player with an Oval Charm after defeating him for the first time.

In Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, Morimoto appears as a Swimmer in the pool at Hotel Grand Lake. He can be fought once per day after the Hall of Fame has been entered, and after he is defeated for the first time, he gives the player an Oval Charm.

Pokémon Sword and Shield

Morimoto will Dynamax his Snorlax at the first opportunity.

GAME FREAK's Morimoto Circhester Sword and Shield Reward: $13,000

Type: Ghost Unknown Ability: Perish Body Held item: None Cursola♀ Lv.65 Disable Normal Status   --       Strength Sap Grass Status   --       Shadow Ball Ghost Special   --       Mirror Coat Psychic Special   --       Type: Fighting Unknown Ability: Limber Held item: None Grapploct♂ Lv.65 Octolock Fighting Status   --       Detect Fighting Status   --       Dig Ground Physical   --       Body Slam Normal Physical   --       Type: Rock Unknown Ability: Power Spot Held item: None Stonjourner♂ Lv.65 Stealth Rock Rock Status   --       Stone Edge Rock Physical   --       Heavy Slam Steel Physical   --       Rest Psychic Status   --       Types: Dragon Ghost Ability: Clear Body Held item: None Dragapult♂ Lv.65 Dragon Darts Dragon Physical   --       Thunder Wave Electric Status   --       Shadow Ball Ghost Special   --       Protect Normal Status   --       Types: Rock Fire Ability: Flash Fire Held item: None Coalossal♂ Lv.65 Tar Shot Rock Status   --       Body Press Fighting Physical   --       Flare Blitz Fire Physical   --       Stone Edge Rock Physical   --       Type: Normal Unknown Ability: Immunity Held item: None Dynamax Snorlax♂ Lv.65 High Horsepower Ground Physical Max Quake   --       Superpower Fighting Physical Max Knuckle   --       Giga Impact Normal Physical Max Strike   --       Gunk Shot Poison Physical Max Ooze   --

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl

GAME FREAK's Morimoto Route 213 Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl Reward: $13,000

Types: Ghost Dark Ability: Infiltrator Held item: Sitrus Berry Spiritomb♂ Lv.63 Shadow Ball Ghost Special   --       Dark Pulse Dark Special   --       Will-O-Wisp Fire Status   --       Destiny Bond Ghost Status   --       Type: Normal Unknown Ability: Technician Held item: King's Rock Ambipom♂ Lv.64 Fake Out Normal Physical   --       Fling Dark Physical   --       Double Hit Normal Physical   --       Ice Punch Ice Physical   --       Type: Ground Unknown Ability: Sand Stream Held item: Leftovers Hippowdon♂ Lv.64 Earthquake Ground Physical   --       Stealth Rock Rock Status   --       Yawn Normal Status   --       Rock Tomb Rock Physical   --       Type: Water Unknown Ability: Water Absorb Held item: Wiki Berry Vaporeon♂ Lv.65 Hydro Pump Water Special   --       Acid Armor Poison Status   --       Ice Beam Ice Special   --       Quick Attack Normal Physical   --       Type: Electric Unknown Ability: Volt Absorb Held item: Lum Berry Jolteon♂ Lv.65 Thunderbolt Electric Special   --       Shadow Ball Ghost Special   --       Thunder Wave Electric Status   --       Volt Switch Electric Special   --       Type: Fire Unknown Ability: Flash Fire Held item: Iapapa Berry Flareon♂ Lv.65 Flare Blitz Fire Physical   --       Superpower Fighting Physical   --       Quick Attack Normal Physical   --       Will-O-Wisp Fire Status   --

Quotes

Main article: Morimoto/Quotes

Gallery

Sprites and models

Sprite from Black and White	Sprite from Black 2 and White 2	Model from Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon	VS sprite from Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon	VS model from Sword and Shield	VS model from Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl
Overworld sprite from Generation V			Overworld model from Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon

Trivia

• One of the default rival names in Pokémon LeafGreen is Geki (Japanese: シゲキ Shigeki), an allusion to Morimoto.
• In the Spanish version of Pokémon Sun and Moon, Morimoto's cameo character is called Tirso, despite him being called Morimoto in previous games.

Videos

#Pokemon20: Shigeki Morimoto

By The Official Pokémon Channel

This video is not available on Bulbapedia; instead, you can watch the video on YouTube here.

Related articles

Pokémon designers

Emi Ando • Hitoshi Ariga • Kanako Eo • Hiroki Fuchino • Motofumi Fujiwara Misaki Hashimoto • Mana Ibe • Asuka Iwashita • Tomohiro Kitakaze • Fumie Kittaka Yusuke Kozaki • Kazuyuki Kurashima • Lee HyunJung • Megumi Mizutani • Shigeki Morimoto Keiko Moritsugu • Kensaku Nabana • Atsuko Nishida • Yusuke Ohmura • Tomohiko Ohkubo Muneo Saitō • Ken Sugimori • take • Reiko Tanoue • Aimi Tomita • Kenkichi Toyama Saya Tsuruta • James Turner • Takao Unno • Emi Yoshida • Hironobu Yoshida

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